The aim of this competition is to identify long-term challenges and new visionary ideas for manufacturing so to influence the future of manufacturing research and education in the U.S. The competition will be judged by a panel of industry and government experts including federal program officers interested in new concepts for large multi-project manufacturing research programs with relevance to their missions. Such ideas are often described as “radical,” “outrageous,” “transformational,” “unconventional” and “breakthrough.” Presentations should pose grand challenges to be addressed by pursuing the manufacturing research vision, describing the intersections between disparate disciplines necessary to advance that vision. Topical areas should extend beyond the scope of a single investigator and show potential for transformative impact in areas of interest to federal agencies.

It is likely that team efforts will be needed to formulate such ideas. Therefore, interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged, including disciplines outside of engineering.

In cooperation with NAMRC/MSEC, the competition organizers invite submissions of abstracts to the Blue Sky competition. Abstracts should be submitted by March 31, 2018. Abstract submissions to the competition can be up to one page in length, single spaced using Times New Roman 12 point font with one-inch margins.

Abstracts will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of members from government and industry covering a wide breadth of manufacturing interests. Up to six abstracts will be selected for oral presentation on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, during the NAMRC/MSEC conference in College Station, Texas. Transportation, lodging (up to two nights) and conference registration expenses of selected speakers will be reimbursed through Oregon State University.

The top presentation, determined by the selection committee, will receive the NAMRI/SME Dornfeld Manufacturing Vision Award to recognize outstanding vision and leadership within the manufacturing community. If appropriate, the winner will be encouraged to organize a workshop on their topic in the near future.

After the conference, SME will post links to presentation slides, so that the ideas can be disseminated broadly to the manufacturing community. Submitting an abstract for the competition requires that the submitters agree to publish their presentation slides through the SME website.

People who are interested in submitting abstracts to the competition are strongly encouraged to talk to Professors Brian Paul (brian.paul@oregonstate.edu), Z.J. Pei (zjpei@tamu.edu) or Scott Smith (kssmith@uncc.edu) who will not be serving on the selection committee. It is the intent of the organizers to provide feedback and insight to abstract submitters in an effort to put forward the strongest ideas for advancing manufacturing research in the U.S.